The Power Of The Force Detention Block Rescue

6/9/2026

Released in 1996 for $9.99, Kenner's Star Wars: Power Of The Force Detention Block Rescue playset gave collectors one of the earliest scene-specific environments in the modern Star Wars action figure line. Based on the Death Star detention block from A New Hope, this small playset lets fans recreate Princess Leia's rescue from cell 2187 in detention block AA-23, along with the hallway shootout and escape into the trash chute.

Packaging And Assembly

The packaging features the orange Power Of The Force (2) packaging style with Darth Vader on the top left and the differently colored rays coming in from the top right. Once the box has been opened, there is some assembly required, but it is very simple. Putting the Detention Block Rescue playset together should not take longer than about 15 to 20 minutes at the most.

There are only two stickers that need to be applied, and both are used for the prison cell door controls. The rest of the detention block snaps together easily, making the setup straightforward even without much experience assembling Star Wars playsets.

Playset Features

For such a small and inexpensive playset, the Power Of The Force Detention Block Rescue includes a surprising number of features. The most action-oriented feature is the rotating cannon, which can fire two missiles. There are two small buttons on top of the cannon, and pressing them launches the missiles forward.

The main hallway section gives the playset its Death Star detention block look, while the opening escape hatch lets the heroes drop down into the trash chute, just like in the movie. This gives the display more functionality than a simple static wall or backdrop.

The playset also includes a small prison cell with a sliding door. The cell is not large, but it has enough room for Princess Leia to stand or sit inside, which is exactly what most collectors would need from a scene-specific detention block display.

The entrance area features pivoting wall-mounted blasters, which can be swiveled into different positions. The design does feel dated by modern standards, but it adds another interactive detail to the playset and reflects the toy-driven approach of the Power Of The Force era.

Display Options

The Detention Block Rescue playset has enough room to comfortably display about four or five regular sized figures, which makes it useful for several different A New Hope scenes. For POTF2 figures it gets a bit tighter since the figure at the time were much bulkier.

Paint And Details

The paint application on the Detention Block Rescue playset looks good overall for a mid-1990s Power Of The Force release. The sculpted wall details, hallway panels, prison cell area, cannon, and door controls help give the set enough visual interest despite its small size.

While the playset is clearly a product of its time and does not have the sharper sculpting or more realistic detailing that Hasbro could likely achieve today, it still works well as a compact scene-specific display piece.

Final Thoughts

Almost 30 years later, the Power Of The Force Detention Block Rescue playset does feel outdated in some areas, and Hasbro could certainly create a much more detailed version today. However, considering that this playset originally cost only $9.99, it offered a lot of value when it was released in 1996.

Unfortunately, Hasbro has never released a modern replacement for the Detention Block Rescue scene. So if you want to recreate Princess Leia's rescue, the Death Star hallway shootout, the escape into the trash chute, this Power Of The Force playset remains the only dedicated option available in the 3.75-inch scale.

Luckily, the Detention Block Rescue playset is still fairly affordable on the secondary market and remains somewhat underappreciated for what it is. It is small, simple, and dated, but it gives collectors a dedicated A New Hope detention block environment that still makes for a fun and useful Star Wars display piece.

Packaging Text:

Imperial stormtroopers are in close pursuit as our heroes attempt a daring rescue to save Princess Leia from the Death Star's Detention Block!